The Oxygen Ponies

Harmony Handgrenade

 Harmony Handgrenade

  Release Date: May 19th,2009
  UK Release Date: September 9th,2009

The Oxygen Ponies second album sees Brooklyn's Paul Megna introducing some special guests, most notably Ben Trokan (Robbers on High Street), Nick Stumpf (French Kicks) and Joe Bennett (Goldrush), and treading into new territory, giving up the lo-fi autobiographical melancholy of his critically acclaimed debut for a richer, multi-textured soundscape. Strings, horns, and backing vocals abound as Megna pulls out all the stops and sardonically attacts corporate America on this politically charged and ironic follow-up co-produced by Megna and Don Piper.

Harmony Handgrenade is sexy and immediate, lyrically intoxicating, and musically loose yet still maintains the intimate whiskey-soaked vocals of the Oxygen Ponies debut. Songs like the poignant "Fevered Cyclone" and the sensual "Love Yr Way" to other instant hits "The War Is Over" and the gospel-tinged "Grab Yr Gun" showcase a songwriter at the top of his craft.

Simply put, Harmony Handgrenade is all about disenchantment, but somehow it remains uplifting. Megna's songs are a constant tug-of-war, reaching unexpected crescendos and spiralling down on a tightrope of oblivion, yet they never lose their balance. It's post-apocalyptic without being melodramatic or self-indulgent. It's matter of fact, chastened, jaded but hopeful - just like Megna himself. And it's that hopefulness which makes this record so compelling. And so timely.

  Biography

The Oxygen Ponies are primarily the vehicle of singer/songwriter Paul Megna, an enigmatic, unpredicatble performer of rare emotional intensity. Band membership changes from album to album, with Megna - who writes, composes and sings all of the band's material - being the only constant member. Like Leonard Cohen, Nick Drake, Elliott Smith and other poets of despair, Megna's autobiographical songs are reflections on a life well-lived; melodic discourses interweaving man's struggle vs. society and man's struggle vs. his own animal nature. This uplifiting battle for survival, hope, bliss, peace and ultimately redemption is what makes them so compelling.

When pushed to define The Oxygen Ponies, Megna describes it as 'intoxicating bedroom pop' or to quote Magnet Magazine "minor chord folk-pop for the end credits". Both are correct. With traces of Neil Young's On the Beach, Leonard Cohen's Songs of Love and Hate and echoes of Dylan, Jesus and Mary Chain, and the Afghan Whigs - those labels certainly seems to fit. The Oxygen Ponies are firmly rooted in the past without seeming retro, both timeless and timely.

In 2006, The Oxygen Ponies critically acclaimed self-titled debut came out of nowhere to garner favorable reviews in Magnet, Tape Op and Salon.com while landing on three bloggers best albums of 2006 lists with such luminaries as Bob Dylan, Band of Horses, The Decemberists, and Cat Power. Americana UK raved "Beautifully, well-crafted songs... reminiscent of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot at times... a balance is achieved where emotions are allowed to shine through without being lost in a confusion of noise. This album could indeed become a modern classic if given half a chance." With only a handful of live performances under his belt, Megna took off for a 2007 UK mini-tour with Randi Russo - who eventually started singing with him, playing shows with Caroline Martin, Jacob Golden, and The Early Years, and a Truck festival gig with Garth Hudson, Brian Jonestown Massacre and Electric Soft Parade among others.

  Press Quotes


The Oxygen Ponies have appointed their acidic indictment of contemporary America with sounds that captivate and howl, putting them in a class with some of music's most creative purveyors.       Brian Baker - Amplifier Magazine

This is a truly remarkable album... Really, really outstanding stuff... I think this music is amazing.       Bob Harris Live on Air BBC Radio 2

It's still quite early on in Paul Megna's career, but even this early, it seems clear that he will soon take his place among the most influential of this generation's musicians.        Stereo Subversion

Savagely lyrical, swirling and psychedelic... Paul Megna has always been a formidable lyricist, but here he vaults into the uppermost echelon... A strong contender for best album of 2009.       Lucid Culture

It's difficult looking ahead to November already, but I feel really secure in picking this CD as one of the most important releases of 2009.       Eartaste